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Reviewing Jaguars player to watch

Reviewing the five players we identified to watch in Saturday’s print edition and how they fared for the Jaguars in the loss to Philadelphia:

WR CECIL SHORTS

Out two weeks, including both preseason games, with a left calf strain, Shorts started and played 31 snaps (including penalties) before calling it a night at halftime. His only catch, a sliding 20-yard reception, came on the Jaguars’ second play from scrimmage. He was officially targeted one other time. A solid step forward for Shorts in terms of playing time considering he returned to practice only last Monday.

RT LUKE JOECKEL

Joeckel was cruising along until he injured his hip flexor Aug. 2 and then aggravated it against Miami six days later. He started and played 28 snaps without the benefit of going through a full practice. Looking at the first quarter of the tape last night, the good was no penalties and a pancake block on the opening snap (albeit into the back of Will Rackley’s left leg). Two negative plays were bad footwork that allowed Fletcher Cox to get free (he was picked up by Maurice Jones-Drew) and getting bull-rushed by DE Clifton Geathers.

S JOHNATHAN CYPRIEN

Cyprien’s preseason debut against the Jets was low-lighted by two penalties but high-lighted by the fact he played. He was better against the Eagles – his 46 snaps were most among the Jaguars’ defensive players (tied with Dwayne Gratz and Dwight Lowery). He had five tackles but appeared to play more under control. He had no penalties.

TE ALLEN REISNER

Make it two touchdown catches in as many weeks for Reisner, who started again for the injured Marcedes Lewis. He played 45 snaps and his only reception was a nifty 8-yard TD that he picked up off the top of his shoes in the third quarter.

QB MIKE KAFKA

Coach Gus Bradley said Thursday that Kafka would be the second quarterback in the game. But an audible was called and Kafka saw the last five snaps after Matt Scott played most of the second half. Let’s not read too much into that, only to say that Kafka will play a lot on Thursday. For the preseason, he’s 7-of-14 passing for 27 yards, one interception and a 26.5 rating. I still think he’s the favorite to be the No. 3 QB because of Blaine Gabbert’s broken thumb.